Yuri Shuvalov: “The Foundations Are Now Being Laid for a Special Relationship Between the CSTO and China”

Following an extended meeting of the Organization's leadership at the CSTO Staff, Yury Shuvalov, representative of the CSTO Secretariat, said that Imangali Tasmagambetov, CSTO Secretary General, set specific tasks to organize a meeting with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s leadership.

“After March events, when Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of Belarus, visited Beijing and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, visited Moscow, we can say that absolutely new relations are being formed between the CSTO and China. I think there are great prospects for the new format of relations between the CSTO and the SCO,” Mr Shuvalov said.

According to him, the world is undergoing a profound transformation, and a “new security configuration” is emerging.

“We intend to jointly build a powerful security pole across much of the Eurasian continent. Such partnership will undoubtedly strengthen Organization’s potential and become the format of joint opposition to the challenges and threats to the Member States,” the CSTO representative stressed.

As you may recall, the CSTO and the SCO signed a memorandum of understanding that serves as a basis for regular contacts and joint work.